How To Overclock A CPU

There are several methods of how to
overclock a CPU. You can
overclock
to get your system faster, without having to sacrifice stability.
I will share with you the methods that I like to use.
If you're new to overclocking, use the first method of buying
a system that has a CPU with an unlocked multiplier.

The most common method of overclocking is to buy a CPU that
has an unlocked multiplier. This is the easiest way to learn, and
generally you'll achieve better overclocks with an unlocked multiplier.
Since a CPU has a much higher
speed than the motherboard, the CPU multiplies the clock to get it's
speed. For example, if the bus speed is 100 MHz, and the CPU
multiplier is 36, the speed of the CPU would be 3600 Mhz or 3.6 GHz.
An unlocked multiplier simply lets you change this value.

I
will show you the BIOS method of how to overclock a CPU. Most
motherboards will not come with software that will let you overclock
right in Windows. The only reason I don't use these programs
currently is because I often find them to be flaky. They are
great for finding the approximate max of a CPU to save some time
however.

Little Programs to make it
Easier

To learn how to overclock a CPU, you'll need a couple of programs that will help you make this easier, since
you will be
pushing the computer system, you'll need to make sure you don't damage
everything. All programs below are free to use and can be
found on mother Google.

TIP! If
you're completely new learning how to overclock a CPU, you need to be aware that you
can damage computer hardware by doing so. If you're careful
it's unlikely but the chance is there.

RealTemp - since the faster
and harder the CPU works, the
more heat it produces, you need this to make sure that you don't damage
any hardware. It will track your CPU's current temperature.
To use, simply start the exe file and the program will begin to
monitor your temperatures.

Prime95
- this is a useful little program to work the CPU to it's maximum in
order to make sure that your overclocked system will be stable.
Run this program, usually it starts minimized to system tray.
To get the best test, open it up, click on options, the select
torture test. To stop, click on test, then stop.

How To Overclock A
CPU With An
Unlocked Multiplier

Step 2
- Assuming Windows has loaded, start RealTemp and Prime 95 to work your
CPU at it's maximum for atleast 10 minutes. Make sure to monitor
the
temperature, if you get up to 60 degrees Celsius, stop Prime 95
immediately. Reboot the computer and go to a slower setting.
(Temperature is up to you, research your exact CPU to find the
limits.)

Step 4
- Did your system stay under 60 degrees Celsius but crash? If
so
add voltage by the smallest increment available to the vcore of the
CPU. This is also done by booting into the BIOS settings.
.15 volts over stock should be pretty safe, again, research your
exact CPU and see what safe limits are. Patience is what give you
the killer overclocks you read about.

How to Overclock a CPU with no
Unlocked Multiplier

Step 1
- Get a little program called CPU-z. Find your current memory
timings in the memory tab. Then click on the SPD tab and write
down the next lower settings.

Step 2 - Boot into the BIOS, change the speed of HT Link to one step lower
than the default.

Step 3
- Change the RAM timings
to those we got in Step 1. Some of you
now thinking, wait, we're actually decreasing the speed on HT Link and
RAM. You are absolutely correct. But since they
are all
related to the multiplication of the FSB, we must slow the other
elements down, since we are only looking at CPU overclocking.
Otherwise, we wouldn't just be CPU overclocking, we would
also be
overclocking the HT Link, and the RAM at the same time. You can't ignore these steps and expect any kind of result.

Step 5
- Assuming Windows has loaded, start RealTemp and Prime 95 to work your
CPU at it's maximum for at least 10 minutes. Make sure to monitor the
temperature, if you get up to 60 degrees Celsius, stop Prime 95
immediately. Reboot the computer and go to a slower setting.
(Temperature is up to you, research your exact CPU to find the limits.)

Step 7
- Did your system stay under 60 degrees Celsius but crash? If
so
add voltage by the smallest increment available to the vcore of the
CPU. This is also done by booting into the BIOS settings. .15 volts
over stock should be pretty safe, again, research your exact CPU and
see what safe limits are. Patience is what give you the killer
overclocks you read about.

Once you think you're at the maximum, do a CPU stress test to make sure
that the computer is stable, if it is, you're good to go, at least
until you want to push it further.